Channing Tatum, Will Smith rule at Oscar rehearsals

Mar. 2, 2014

Channing Tatum stands onstage during rehearsals for the 86th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, Saturday, March 1, 2014. The Academy Awards will be held at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday, March 2. / Matt Sayles/Invision/AP

Channing Tatum was the proud papa showing off baby pictures backstage, Kerry Washingtondisplayed her baby bump and Will Smith was the class clown with his loud morning antics.

Some high points behind-the-scenes before Sunday's Oscar telecast:

Team Leader: Tatum helped choose six student filmmakers who will present the Oscars onstage as "Team Oscar." During rehearsals, a casually dressed Tatum visited with the students and showed off baby pictures of his daughter, Everly.

"I'll be the proud dad for a minute," said Tatum, whipping out a mobile phone and scrolling through pictures. He reveled in the "oohs" and "ahhs."

"She's 9 months so (she's) really starting to get cute," said Tatum.

He jokingly vowed to ease Everly into his movie catalog.

"We're going to start out slow and eventually work up to Magic Mike," he said, breaking into a mock male revue dance. "This is the last thing I want her doing in pre-school."

Tatum gave the students advice about handling the Oscar telecast, pointing out that last year he had to dance with Charlize Theron onstage.

"If I had dropped her on national television that would have been all over," said Tatum. "That was the most nerve-wracking thing ever."

At the podium, Tatum stumbled over the pronunciation of some of the students' names. "I promise to work on it. If I blow it tomorrow, I'm going to do ten push-ups for you," Tatum vowed.

Baby on board: Kerry Washington, revealing a noticeable baby bump, also took time to greet the film students backstage.

The Scandal star paid her respects and then announced, "See you all tomorrow with your fancy clothes on."

Stage laughs: A sleepy-eyed Will Smith managed to earn some laughs during his early morning trip to the podium. It didn't hurt that he was wearing silvery pink sneakers and pretended to throw the fake Oscar.

Jason Sudeikis seemed perfectly at ease announcing his category. But walking offstage, in hushed conversation with the stage manager, he jokingly pretended to be clueless about his next steps, "Oh this is all tomorrow? What time?"

Another Lawrence moment: Jennifer Lawrence is becoming the queen of the unforgettable Oscar moment after her triumphant fall to the stage last year (leading to a standing ovation).

At rehearsal, she adorably responded to the fake audience applause as she stepped to the podium by excitedly waving her hands.

Lunch date: Sipping bottled water as she stepped offstage, Goldie Hawn caught up with Sally Field. The two chatted about trips and life before Hawn suggested, "Can we have a nice dinner and talk about all of this?"

"Let's do it," said Field.

Oscar host Ellen DeGeneres rehearsed her part of the show behind closed doors.